US3017361A

US3017361A - Non-squawking automatic transmission fluid

Info

Publication number: US3017361A
Application number: US607994A
Authority: US
Inventors: John R Morris; Raymond C Schlicht; Clinton W Adams; Julius A Lawrence
Original assignee: Texaco Inc
Current assignee: Texaco Inc
Priority date: 1956-09-05
Filing date: 1956-09-05
Publication date: 1962-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1979-01-16

Description

United States Patent Office 3,017,361 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 This invention relates to a compounded mineral lubricating oil and, more particularly, to a hydraulic fluid adapted for use in the automatic transmissions of motor vehicles.

In the simple fluid drive or torque converter, the hydraulic fluid is required mainly to transmit torque and to function as a heat transfer medium. However, in the more complicated automatic transmissions which have, in addition to a fluid coupling or a torque converter, wet clutches, planetary gearing and hydraulic control mechanism, additional problems of adequate lubrication are also involved. Rigorous requirements have been set up to qualify a hydraulic fluid for this service. These requirements include a viscosity index of at least 132 to provide improved operation over a wider temperature range and to insure that a simple fluid can be used in all current production automatic transmissions, a flash point of 320 F. minimum, a fire point of 355 F. minimum and a pour point of -45 F. maximum to insure pumpability of the fluid at low atmospheric temperatures. In addition, the fluid must not have a detrimental effect on copper alloys as determined by its ability to pass a copper strip corrosion test; it must have no deleterious effect on the synthetic seals used in automatic transmissions; and it must have a high degree of oxidation resistance and be able to withstand prolonged heating at high temperatures without decom osition. Finally. the fluid must possess excellent anti-frictional properties involving oiliness and extreme pressure characteristics to afford proper lubrication of the gearing, clutch plates and other parts of the automatic transmissions.

As a measure of the ability of the hydraulic fluid to afford proper operation in the automatic transmission, several severe tests have been formulated. Thus, one of the requirements is that the fluid should pass the CRC L-4 oxidation test at 265 F. crankcase temperature. Another requirement is that the fluid pass a so-called non-chatter or Squawk test, which means that the fluid functions in the automatic transmisison without objectionable chatter or squawking. The latter is a highpitched sound produced by a stick-slip phenomenon of the clutch plates, particularly in the second-third upshift. A third rigorous requirement is that the fluid should pass a so-called cycling test, which involves operation in the automatic transmission through repeated cycles of idling to full throttle at a transmission oil temperature of 275 F. over a substantial period of time, without substantial deposition of sludge or varnish formation and without injury to the clutch plates.

It has been found that a great variety of additives or inhibitors, which are generally effective in motor oil service in preventing oil oxidation and corrosion and imparting other desirable qualities, either cannot be employed for the present service because the compounded mineral lubricating oil will then not meet the requirements for viscosity, viscosity index and pour point, or are ineffective in the present service because they do not suppress the squawk and/or actually increase the amount of sludge formed and the amount of deposits on the clutch plates of the automatic transmission. Moreover, the requirements for additives which satisfactorily suppress the squawking tendency and afford suitable operation in the cycling test are quite different from those involved in ordinary crankcase lubrication or diesel motor oil service.

The problem, therefore, was not that of selection of known additives for their expected results, but involved entirely new requirements in a nonanalogous field.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that oil-soluble metal salts of carboxylic acids of at least 8 carbon atoms are excellent anti-Squawk agents. Accordingly, the hydraulic transmission fluids of this invention comprise at least 85 weight percent of a mineral lubricating oil and 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent of a soluble metal salt of a carboxylic acid of at least 8 carbon atoms. Advantageously, the carboxylic acid from which the oil-soluble metal salt is derived contains at least 12 carbon atoms. Magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate are particularly preferred anti-squawk agents. Additives in an amount of about 5 to 12 weight percent are usually present in the finished automatic transmission fluid to impart improved viscosity index, anticorrosive and detergent properties thereto. A foam inhibitor such as a silicone polymer also is usually included in the finished commercial product.

The mineral lubricating oil which constitutes at least 85 weight percent of the composition is a refined oil or a mixture of refined oils selected according to the viscosity requirements of the particular service. For automatic transmissions where the requirements include an SUS viscosity of the compounded oil at 210 F. of 49 to 51 minimum and at 0 F. of 7,000 maximum (extrapolated), the base oil or the major component thereof is generally a distillate oil lighter than an SAE 10 grade motor oil such as one having an SUS viscosity at 100 P. less than 150 and generally between about 50 and 125. This base oil or major component thereof can be prepared from a naphthenic distillate by acid treating. The flash point of this major component of the base oil will generally be substantially above 300 R; if this distillate fraction constitutes the entire base oil, its flash point will usually be between 350 and 375 F. or higher.

A particularly preferred base oil composition comprises approximately to percent of a light distillate oil of the type described in the previous paragraph and 15 to 30 percent of a refined residual fraction which imparts improved flash and lubricating properties to the distillate fraction. A particularly preferred modifying agent is a paraflin base residuum which has been subjected to propane deasphalting and centrifuge dewaxing and which has an SUS viscosity at 210 F. below about 250, a flash in the neighborhood of 550 to 580 F. and a pour of 10 to 20 F. An effective base oil mixture comprises 77 percent of an acid-treated naphthenic base distillate having an SUS at F. of 57 to 62, a flash above 300 F. minimum, a pour below 40 F. and 23 percent of a paraflin base residuum which has been subjected to propane deasphalting and centrifuge dewaxing and having an SUS viscosity at 210 F. of 198, a flash of about 570 F. and a pour of 15 F. The resulting base oil has a flash above 320 F., at pour substantially below 40 F. and an SUS viscosity at 100 F. of 115.

The oil-soluble metal carboxylates which impart improved anti-squawk properties to automatic transmission fluids have the following general formula:

(RCOO) X wherein X is a group II, III or IV metal or the corresponding hydroxy metal group, R is a hydrocarbon radical containing at least 7 carbon atoms and n is 1 to 4. Basic salts may be used, but the neutral metal salts are preferred because of their better solubility in lube oil. Alkali metal carboxylic acid salts are relatively ineffective as Squawk inhibitors. Aliphatic carboxylic acid salts are generally employed because of their greater availability, but soluble metal salts of cycloaliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids containing at least 8 carbon atoms can also be used as anti-Squawk agents.

The metals which are most effective in the form of their carboxylic acid salts in anti-squawk properties are mag nesium, cadmium, zinc, calcium, titanium and aluminum. Other groups II, III and IV metal carboxylates may be used, but the foregoing metals are particularly effective. Magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate have been found to be particularly effective anti-Squawk agents. The following metal carboxylates are illustrative of the materials that impart improved anti-Squawk properties to automatic transmission fluids: zinc stcarate, zinc octoate, zinc oleate, magnesium laurate, magnesium octoate, stannous linoleate, cadmium laurate, cadmium stearate, calcium oleate, calcium laurate, magnesium wax oxidate, titanium stearate, aluminum stearate, cadmium o-t-butyl benzoate, aluminum oleate, titanium p-octyl benzoate and titanium laurate.

The oil-soluble carboxylates of groups II, III and IV metals must be employed in an amount within the prescribed 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent concentration range in order to be effective. If the concentration of oil-soluble metal carboxylate is above the 0.4 weight percent concentration, the oil fails in the cycling test because of excessive slippage; if it is used in less than 0.1 weight percent, it is ineffective as an anti-squawk agent. When the concentration of oil-soluble metal carboxylate is within the prescribed 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent range, excellent Squawk ratings are obtained.

Viscosity index improvement of the carboxylate metal salt-containing transmission fluid is usually effected with a methacrylate ester polymer having the formula wherein R is an alkyl group or a mixture of alkyl groups containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, and n is a number providing a molecular weight of the polymer of about 10,000 to 20,000. Various methacrylate ester polymers of this type are known which possess pour depressant and viscosity index-improving properties. A very satisfactory material of this type is a copolymer of the lower C to C alkyl methacrylate esters. A commercial methacrylate copolymer of this type, which is primarily a viscosity index improver, is sold under the trade name Acryloid 710 by Rohm & Haas, wherein R comprises about 50 percent lauryl and 50 percent octyl groups and the molecular weight is about 10,000 to 20,000.

Another commercial material of this type is sold by the same concern under the trade name Acryloid 150, wherein R is predominantly a mixture of 50 percent cetyl, 25 percent lauryl and 25 percent octyl groups and the molecular weight of the polymer is about 10,000 to 15,000. The latter copolymer predominates in pour depressant properties. Each of these commercial methacrylate copolymers is sold in the form of about a 40 percent concentrate of the active polymer in a light colored mineral lubricating oil base, providing a clear amber colored viscous liquid having a kinematic viscosity of 210 F. of about 600 to 850 centistokes. In the following description, the copolymer Will be listed on an oil-free basis, except where the trade names of commercial products are specified.

One or more of the methacrylate ester polymers, as described above, may be employed with the base oil in a proportion of about 0.4 to 6.0 percent by Weight based on the hydraulic oil composition, in order to impart the desired viscosity, viscosity index and pour point. For example, Acryloid 710 may be employed alone with very satisfactory results with certain base oils; and. in other cases, a mixture of Acryloid 710 and Acryloid 150 may be used. Also it will be understood that other methacrylate ester polymers of the foregoing type can be employed.

The present hydraulic fluids also preferably include a suitable anti-foam agent, since hydraulic fluids are circulated rapidly in operation and air may be entrapped. For this purpose, a silicon polymer of high viscosity, such as dimethyl silicone polymer having a kinematic viscosity at 25 C. of about 1,000 centistokes and above, is preferably employed, since this agent also desirably increases the flash point of the fluid. The use of a high viscosity ilicone polymer in a hydraulic fluid of the mineral lubricating oil type to inhibit foaming and increase the flash point is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,662,055. A silicone polymer is conveniently employed in the form of a concentrate in a hydrocarbon solvent such as kerosene. For example, a very satisfactory anti-foam agent for this purpose is prepared by diluting 10 grams of a dimethyl silicone polymer (1,000 centistokes at 25 C.) with kerosene to bring the volume to 100 cubic centimeters. A proportion of the order of 0.005 to 0.025 percentby weight of the immediately foregoing concentrate is ordinarily employed, preferably sufficient to provide about 50 to 200 parts per million of the silicone polymer concentrate on the basis of the hydraulic fluid.

The detergents employed in the finished automatic transmission fluids are usually alkaline earth metal salts of petroleum sulfonatcs or alkaryl sulfonates, both of which are Widely used in lubricants because of their detergent action. As is Well known, the petroleum sulfonate divalent metal salts are formed by reaction of concentrated sulfuric acid percent minimum) with a high boiling hydrocarbon fraction in the lube oil range, and subsequent neutralization of the resulting petroleum sulfonate fraction with a divalent metal carbonate or hydroxide. The alkaline earth metal salts of alkylated aromatic sulfonic acids are formed by alkylating a suitable aromatic compound such as benzene, alkyl benzene, naphthalene, alkyl naphthalene and anthracene, with an olefin in the presence of a suitable alkylation catalyst such as aluminum chloride, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, etc., followed by sulfonation with sulfuric acid and, finally, neutralization of the resulting aromatic sulfonic acid with a divalent metal base. Preferably, the olefin employed in this series of reactions is a high molecular Weight olefin having eight or more carbon atoms such as a propylene or butyl'ene polymer, mixed polymers or a high molecular Weight straight chain olefin such as octylene, dodecylene, etc. An alternate method of preparing the alkyl aromatic starting material involves the preparation of a halogenated paraflinic hydrocarbon such as a chloro paraflin wax and subsequent alkylation of the aromatic hydrocarbon with the halogenated parafiin under conditions to liberate hydrogen halide and form a mono-, di or tri-wax alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon which is subsequently sulfonated and neutralized. Barium, calcium, cadmium and magnesium sulfonate salts may be used as detergents, but the barium compounds are particularly effective in automatic transmission fluids.

The alkaline earth metal petroleum sulfonates are usually employed in the automatic transmission fluids of this invention. The alkaline earth metal petroleum sulfonates are generally used in the form of their basic salts because basic, salts enhance the anticorrosive properties of the resulting transmission fluids in addition to functioning as detergents. Basic alkaline earth metal sulfonates is the term used to designate products resulting from reac tion of petroleum sulfonic acids or alkaryl sulfonic acids with an alkaline earth metal hydroxide in such proportions that the resulting mixture contains one free hydroxyl group. Super basic alkaline earth metal sulfonates in which the concentration of metal is higher than calculated from the formula of the product containing one free hydrexyl group are prepared from an excess of alkaline earth metal hydroxide, petroleum sulfonic acid, a polar oxygenated hydrocarbon such as phenol and a weakly acidic organic promoter such as nitropropane. The super" basic sulfonates are also used as detergents in automatic transmission fluids.

A particular preferred detergent used in the formulation of automatic transmission fluids characterized by excellent anti-squawk properties in addition to high viscosity index and anti-foam properties is a basic barium petroleum sulfonate. A superior automatic transmission fluid characterized by excellent anti-squawk, anti-wear and anti-corrosive properties which meets the rigid requirements prescribed by the manufacturers of automatic transmissions uses basic barium petroleum sulfonate as the detergent.

The barium salts of olefin-P 5 reaction products also possess detergent properties and are sometimes used in combination with petroleum sulfonate salts in automatic transmission fluids. A typical barium salt of this type is prepared as follows:

An olefin, for example, a C propylene polymer, and P 5 are reacted in the optional presence of a solvent at a temperature of 250 to 400 F. with a mol of P 8 being used for each double bond present in the olefin; the reaction product is neutralized with barium hydroxide in a hydrocarbon solvent such as xylene under reflux conditions; the resulting barium salt is isolated from the xylene solvent. A good detergent combination comprises about 75 percent basic barium petroleum sulfonate and about 25 percent barium salt of C propylene polymer- P S reaction product.

The detergent constitutes 1 to 6 weight percent of the finished automatic transmission fluid with concentrations generally falling within the range of 2 to 5 weight percent.

The corrosion inhibitors employed in the squawkfree automatic transmission fluids of this invention are broadly classified as sulfur-containing organic compounds, which term includes dithiophosphate salts, sulfurized olefins, neutralized sulfurized olefins and mixtures there of. Dithiophosphate salts are prepared by the reaction of alcohols or phenols with phosphorus pentasulfide and subsequent neutralization of the acidic reaction product with a divalent metal hydroxide or carbonate. Sulfurized olefins are obtained by the reaction of olefins including olefinic polymers and terpenes with sulfur, hydrogen sulfide or phosphorus pentasulfide; the neutral modifications resultfrom oxidation or reaction with caustic of the foregoing reaction products.

Dithiophosphate metal salts, particularly calcium and zinc salts, are produced by the reaction of metal hydroxide, oxide, or metal, per se, with alkyl thiophosphates resulting from the reaction of monohydroxy alcohols with phosphorus pentasulfide. There appears to be some controversy over the nature of the alkyl thiophosphates resulting from the reaction of monohydroxy alcohols with phosphorus pentasulfide, but it is believed that the major reaction product has the following composition:

wherein R designates the radical of the alcohol used in the reaction. The salts are formed from the phosphorus pentasulfide-alcohol condensation products by reaction with an excess of powdered divalent metal, metal oxide or hydroxide at a temperature in the neighborhood of 200 to 350 F. Preferred alcohols for reaction with phosphorus pentasulfide are methyl isobutyl carbinol, isopropyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, cyclohexanol, methyl cyclohexanol and capryl alcohol. The zinc salts of alkyl thiophosphates formed by reaction of P 8 with one of the aforementioned alcohols have proven to be particularly excellent corrosion inhibitors in automatic transmission fluid. A lauryl alcohol-P 5 zinc reaction product is a particularly effective corrosion inhibitor.

Sufurized olefins and the neutralized modifications thereof result from the reaction of C to C aliphatic olefins or a terpene with sulfur, hydrogen sulfide or phosphorus pentasulfide. For example, sulfurized terpenes result from the reaction of sulfur, hydrogen sulfide or phosphorus pentasulfide with compounds such as pinene, limonene, terpinene, dipentene and mixtures thereof. C to C olefinic polymers prepared by the polymerization of propylene, butylene or mixtures thereof are also used in the preparation of sulfurized olefin corrosion inhibitors. The products designated neutralized sulfurized olefins are obtained by adding a dry neutralizing agent such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium oxide, etc. to the sulfurized olefin, preferably at an elevated temperature of 100 to about 400 F. and preferably in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. also be effected by contacting the reaction product obtained by sulfur, hydrogen sulfide or phosphorus pentasulfide sulfurization with'a solution of neutralizing agent, e.g., potassium hydroxide dissolved in alcohol. Neutralization can also be effected by oxidation of the sulfurization product; oxidation with 30 percent H 0 is normally used.

A preferred sulfurized olefin is obtained by reacting a terpene mixture comprising mainly dipentene with about 10 percent P 5 After the reaction is completed, excess phosphorus pentasulfide is separated from the reaction product by filtering or by diluting with a solvent such as hexane, filtering and distilling off the solvent. The reaction mixture may be further treated by blowing with steam or nitrogen at an elevated temperature. Neutralization of the phosphorus pentasulfideterpene reaction product may be effected by contact of the reaction product with an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. Examples of commercial products of this type are LZ-92 sold by Lubrizol Corporation and S394C sold by Monsanto.

The corrosion inhibitor usually constitutes between 1 and 4 weight percent of the total transmission fluid with concentrations of 1 /2 to 3 percent being preferred. The corrosion inhibitor is usually a divalent metal alkyl thiophosphate alone or in combination with one of the second class of corrosion inhibitors comprising sulfurized olefins and their neutralized modifications. A particularly effective corrosion inhibitor is an -15 mixture of zinc alkyl dithiophosphate and a terpene-P 5 reaction product. The zinc alkyl dithiophosphate alone is also an effective corrosion inhibitor.

The following examples illustrate the effective antisquawk properties of hydraulic transmission fluids containing 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent of a neutral divalent salt of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of at least 8 carbon atoms. The anti-squawk properties are demonstrated in the squawk test which is carried out in a 1948 Cadillac equipped with a 1947 production Hydramatic transmission. Alternate full and part throttle accelerations are made, with the transmission going through normal shifting. Tests are started with the bulk oil temperature below F. and the oil is allowed to heat up in normal operation. Temperatures are recorded at the beginning of each acceleration and thesquawktendency of the transmission on the second-third upshift is noted. The test is stopped when 10 full throttle squawks on the second-third upshift are recorded. In the case of hydraulic fluids with which little or no squawking is noted, the test is continued for 75 cycles up to a bulk oil temperature of approximately 310 F. before-ending the test. In rating the oils, a 0 rating is optimum, 0 to 49 is good, 50 to 149 is fair and 150 to 300 is poor; ratings over 150 fail.

In Example I, base oil containing a viscosity index improver and antifoam agent is compared in the squawk test with the same oil containing magnesium stearate.

Example I Two hydraulic fluids were prepared from a base fluid comprising 80 percent of an acid-treated naphthene base The neutralization can Base 011 96. 00 95. 75 Acryloid 710 4. 00 4. 00 Kerosene concentrate contain'm cone per 100 cc. of solution, ppm- 150 150 Magnesium stearate 0.00 0.25

The hydraulic fluid A gave a Squawk test of 300,

while fluid B containing magnesium stearate gave a Squawk test of 0.

The tests, in addition to the Squawk test, which have been prescribed by the makers of automatic transmissions to evaluate fluids for use therein, are the oven sludge test, the CRC-L-4 oxidation test and the cycling test, which are hereafter described before presentation of the rest of the examples.

An oven sludge test is a preliminary screening test to reject compositions which are inferior in respect to. high temperature breakdown and sludging and, therefore, incapable of passing the cycling test. This sludge test is run by placing a sample of the fluid in an oven for 125 hours at 250 F., and then measuring the weight percent of sludge formed.

A CRC-L-4 oxidation test is run on the fluid at 265 F. crankcase temperature in accordance with conventional procedure. Passing this test requires a copper-lead bearing weight loss below a specified maximum, and a satisfactory CRC rating and piston rating with respect to deposits or engine cleanliness. The acceptable bearing weight loss is 0.300 gram for 2 whole bearings. The piston rating is on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with 10 representing a perfectly clean piston and lower numbers representing progressively poorer results due to increased Varnish and deposits. A piston rating of 8 or above in this test is good. The over-all CRC rating is on a basis of 100 for perfect over-all cleanliness; a value above 85 is quite satisfactory.

The cycling test is carried out in a production V-8 Oldsmobile engine of 165 HP. mounted on a regular dynamometer test stand, and driving a dynamometer through a product Hydramatic transmission. The throttle setting is varied by a cam-solenoid arrangement to provide a cycle of 15 seconds at idling speed and then 45 seconds at full throttle opening. During the full throttle opening the transmission shifts through all four forward speeds and then runs at full throttle speed. Conditions for this test include an average load of 135 HR, a top speed in fourth gear at full throttle of 3,600 r.p.rn., and a transmission oil temperature of 275 F. The test is run for a period of 100 hours, or for a lesser time up until oil failure. Oil failure is defined as that point at which the transmission takes more than 10 seconds to shift into fourth gear (with new satisfactory transmission fluids, the time is usually 4.5 to 6 seconds} or when excessive slippage is noted. After termination of the test, the transmission is disassembled and the condition of the oil and transmission noted. Of particular interest is the condition of the clutch plate facings. Also, close observation of sludge and varnish formation is made.

Examples II and III show the effect of incorporating 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent of a C or higher oil-soluble 8 carboxylate salt of group II, III or IV metals in base oil containing viscosity index improver, detergent, corrosion inhibitor and anti-foam agent. The resulting transmis sion fluids are superior products which meet the exacting requirements of automobile manufacturers.

Example II The hydraulic fluids were prepared with a base fluid employed in Example I. The two fluids were approximately the same with the exception that fluid B contained 0.25 percent magnesium stearate. The compositions of the fluids in weight percent were as follows:

Base oil 90. 985 90. 735 Acryloid 710 4. 00 00 Basic barium petroleum sulfonate 3. 00 3. 00 Zinc methyleyclohexyl dithiophosphate. 1. 70 1. 70 Terpene-P S product 0.30 0.30 Magnesium stearate.-.- 0.00 0. 25- Kerosene concentrate con cone per cc. of solution 0. 010 0.015

The following tests were obtained on these two hydraulic fluids:

Viscosity:

New 01.1:

SUS at 100 F. (determined)... SUS at 210 F. (determined)--- Oil after cycling test:

S F. (determined) US at 100 167 178. SUS at 210 F. (determined) 45.7 46.8. Viscosity index:

Before cycling test 137 136 After cycling test Flash point, 000, F Fire point F Pour point F 55 Corrosion, copper strip, 3 hrs. at 300 F strain.

Detroit transmission foam test Pass. Heat test, 125 hrs. at 250 F-.. N o Sludge. OR O-L-4 test:

Bearing Weight loss, grams 0.222

Piston rating 9.8.

Total CRO ratin 95 3 g Non-chatter ("Squawk) test Poor, 300.. Good, 19.

Cycling test 51 Cadillac '53 Oldsmobile Hours to termination 100. Reason for termination End of test End of test. Clutch plate condition after test Fair, mild No flaking and flaking. little Wear.

Example III The following compositions were prepared using a base oil containing the naphthene base distillate and paraflin residuum used in Example II in a 77/23 ratio, respectively:

The following tests were obtained Viscosity:

New oil:

SUS at 100 F. (deter- 203 205.

mined).

SUS at 210F 50.3 50.4. Oil after cycling test:

SUS at 100 F. (deter- 188 195.

mined).

SUS at 210 F 47.0 47.6.

Viscosity index:

Before cycling test. After cycling test Flash point, F

Fire point, F

Pour point, F -55-.. 55. Corrosion, copper strip, 3 hrs. at Negative.

300 F. Heat test, 125 hrs. at 250 F 'Irace sludge pass. ORG-L-4 test on undiluted fluid:

Bearing weight loss, grams.. 0.07 Piston ratin 9.8. Total ORG rating 98.3. Non-chatter (Squawk) test: Poor, 300 Good, 41

Used plates. Cycling test (53 Oldsmobile):

Hours to termination 97 100. Reason for termination Mfeclianical End of test.

or ure. Clutch plate condition after Excellent, no flak- Exeellent,no test. ing and very flaking and little wear. slight wear.

The foregoing examples show that superior nonsquawking automatic transmission fluids are obtained by the incorporation of detergents, viscosity index improvers and corrosion inhibitors in a base oil containing the prescribed amount of oil-soluble group II, III or IV metal salts of a carboxylic acid of at least 8 carbon atoms.

In the following table, the effect on Squawk test of adding various oil-soluble groups II, III and IV metal salts of carboxylic acids containing at least 8 carbon atoms to inhibited base fluids is shown. There is also shown the Squawk rating of inhibited base fluids containing an alkali metal carboxylate salt.

Fair114 on 1st run, poor236 on rerun.

Poor300.

Good-33.

Good-30.

Fluid A of Example II plus 0.25% lithium steal-ate.

Fluid A of Example III Fluid A of Example III plus 0.25% titanium steal-ate.

Fluid A of Example III plus 0.25% stannous linoleate.

The ineffectiveness of the alkali metal carboxylate salt is in sharp contrast with the excellent anti-squawk properties imparted to hydraulic transmission fluids by the incorporation of prescribed quantities of groups II, III and IV metal salts of carboxylic acids containing at least 8 carbon atoms.

While the foregoing examples employing certain specific compounds have been listed for purposes of illustration on a comparative basis, it is to be understood that similar non-squawking hydraulic fluid compositions are produced from a base oil containing an oil-soluble metal salt of a C -lcarboxylic acid by substituting other compounds falling Within each of the foregoing specified classes of viscosity index improvers, detergents and corrosion inhibitors as listed above. Moreover, while a dimethyl silicone polymer has been specifically enumerated as an anti-foam agent, it will be understood that other types of liquid silicone polymers, particularly the dihydrocarbon silicone polymers as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,375,007, such as diethyl, methyl ethyl, diphenyl, phenyl ethyl, and methyl phenyl silicone polymers, can be em- Weight percent Oil-soluble group II, III or IV metal salt of a C or higher carboxylic acid 0.1 to 0.4 Methacrylate ester polymer 0.4 to 6.0 Sulfonate salt detergent 1.0 to 6.0 Dithiophosphate salt, sulfurized olefin, neutral ized sulfurized olefin or mixture thereof 1.0 to 4.0 Mineral lubricating oil Balance This application is a continuation-in-part of our 00- pending application Serial No. 422,672, filed April 12, 1954, and now abandoned.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of operating an automatic transmission comprising lubricating said transmission with a fluid comprising at least weight percent of a mineral lubricating oil and between 0.1 to 0.4 weight percent of an oil solu ble metallic salt of an aliphatic hydrocarbyl mono carboxylic acid having at least eight carbon atoms, said metal being selected from a group consisting of metals of groups II, III and IV of the periodic table, said amount of said metallic salt being sufficient to eliminate squawking without adverse effect on the performance of the oil in the cycling test.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the oil soluble metal salt is a neutral salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid containing at least twelve carbon atoms.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the oil soluble metal salt is magnesium stearate.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the oil soluble metal salt is aluminum stearate.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the oil soluble metal salt is cadmium stearate.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the oil soluble metal salt is titanium steara-te.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,646 Becker May 17, 1927 1,820,295 Bennett Aug. 25, 1931 1,837,279 McGill Dec. 22, 1931 2,001,108 Parker May 14, 1935 2,055,417 Moser Sept. 22, 1936 2,202,364 Wiezevich May 28, 1940 2,218,618 McNab et a1. Oct. 22, 1940 2,223,127 Prutton Nov. 26, 1940 2,227,149 Murphree Dec. 31, 1940 2,231,167 Lazar et a1. Feb. 11, 1941 2,366,817 Towne Jan. 9, 1945 2,451,039 Morway et a1. Oct. 12, 1948 2,489,300 Leyda Nov. 29, 1949 2,504,552 Lewis Apr. 18, 1950 2,623,835 Melsen Dec. 30, 1952 2,681,891 Bos et a1 June 22, 1954 2,710,842 Heisig June 14, 1955 2,768,953 Howell Oct. 30, 1956 2,830,956 Wasson Apr. 15, 1958 2,851,422 Manteuffel Sept. 9, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Ellis: Lubricant Testing, Scientific Pub. (Great Britain), 1953, pages 146-150.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF OPERATING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPRISING LUBRICATING SAID TRANSMISSION WITH A FLUID COMPRISING AT LEAST 85 WEIGHT PERCENT OF A MINERAL LUBRICATING OIL AND BETWEEN 0.1 TO 0.4 WEIGHT PRCENT OF AN OIL SOLUBLE METALLIC SALT OF AN ALIPHTIC HYDROCARBYL MONO CARBOXYLIC ACID HAVING AT LEAST EIGHT CARBON ATOMS, SAID METAL BEING SELECTED FROM A GROUP CNSISTING OF METALS OF GROUPS II,III AND IV OF THE PEROIDIC TABLE, SAID AMOUNT OF SAID METALLIC SALT BEING SUFFICIENT TO ELIMINATE SQUAWKING WITHOUT ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OIL IN THE CYCLING TEST.